SPORT - The African Mirror

Feb

23

2024

Nigerian star scores as Napoli draws with Barcelona

FOOTBALL

NAPOLI fought back to hold visitors Barcelona to a dour 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday as Victor Osimhen cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's opener. Last year's Spanish and Italian champions, both struggling this season, played out a poor match in which both sides were toothless and lacking attacking flair. Third in the LaLiga standings eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona dominated the first half against a disorganised Napoli who barely managed to get out of their own half. "It is not a good result for the return leg," Barca manager Xavi Hernandez told Movistar…

Feb

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Messi shines as Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 in MLS season opener

FOOTBALL

LIONEL Messi set up one goal and had a hand in another as Inter Miami weathered a Real Salt Lake storm after the break to emerge with a 2-0 victory in the opening match of the 2024 Major League Soccer season. Miami dominated the first half in Fort Lauderdale and broke through in the 39th minute when Messi split the defence to find Robert Taylor, whose low shot looked like it had been saved by Zac MacMath before it spun out of his arms and into the net. Salt Lake, who had been tentative in the first half, came out…

Feb

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Traore, Diatta banned following Cup of Nations outbursts

AFCON 2023

MALI captain Hamari Traore and Senegal winger Krepin Diatta have been suspended for an effective two matches each following their respective tempestuous reactions to exits at the hands of hosts Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Ivorians defeated Senegal on penalties in the last 16, with Diatta incensed over what he perceived to be incorrect calls from the match officials. He described the Confederation of African Football as "corrupt" and was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute which also carried a fine of $10,000. Ivory Coast went on to beat Mali 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals following…

Feb

15

2024

By MPHO RANTAO

Brand new African Karting Championships kicks off in South Africa ahead of Karting World Cup

MOTORSPORT, WHAT'S HAPPENING

THE inaugural African Karting Cup starts this weekend at the Zwartkops Kart Circuit, in the city of Centurion, Gauteng, from February 15 -17. Over 15 countries, including Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, will be represented by 40 drivers on the karting circuit, signalling the popular rise of young drivers with high ambitions. The event will be managed by Motorsport South Africa (MSA) and is an FIA-recognised competition. MSA chairperson Adrian Stoltz said that the Cup competition was meant to take place at the main Zwartkop Racing Circuit, but announced a last-minute venue change due…

Feb

15

2024

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

African football won the 34th Afcon, with Côte d’Ivoire a close second

AFCON 2023

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) came to an end in Côte d'Ivoire with millions of viewers around the world shouting at TV screens, and an astonishing performance by Côte d'Ivoire both on the field as champions and off it as hosts. The West African country beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final but the good news was bigger than the match. The group stage of the most important national tournament in Africa produced an average of 2.47 goals per game – the highest in the competition for over a decade. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University As a…

Feb

15

2024

By WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU

Kelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons

ATHLETICS

KENYAN athletics has lost Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who was destined to be the first person to run the race in under two hours. The runner, aged only 24, died on 10 February in a car accident that also claimed his coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, from Rwanda. WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State University The accident occurred near one of the high-altitude athletics training centres that dot the country’s north Rift Valley. The region northwest of Nairobi is home to many Kenyan distance runners, among them world-famous…

Feb

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenya’s Sarah Chepchirchir gets 8-year ban for second doping violation

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S Sarah Chepchirchir has been hit with an eight-year ban after the former Tokyo Marathon winner was found to have violated anti-doping regulations for a second time, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said in a statement. Chepchirchir had returned an adverse analytical finding for testosterone, the AIU said. The sample was collected at the Bangsaen42 Chonburi Marathon in Thailand in November. The 39-year-old was previously banned for four years in 2019, backdated to April 11, 2018, because of abnormalities in her athlete blood passport. The latest ban will be backdated to December 22, 2023, and Chepchirchir's competition results from November…

Feb

14

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Rising talent fuelling continental basketball

BASKETBALL

SEVEN African basketball prospects are among the 40 high-school-age prospects who will participate in the eighth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. Their participation and inclusion at the BWB Global Camp underscores the abundance of basketball talent on the continent, ready and eager to continue Africa’s legacy as a sports talent hub. A press statement by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on February 9 announced the names of the 40 youngsters who will be part of the camp that will be held between February 16 and 18 at the Mojo Up Sports Complex…

Feb

13

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast relief after winning Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

IVORY Coast’s success at the Africa Cup of Nations was all about taking advantage of second chances, but after coming from behind to beat Nigeria in Sunday's final, relief was the overwhelming emotion, winning coach Emerse Fae said. The host nation completed a fairytale recovery after coming close to early elimination, fighting their way back from a goal down in three of their four knockout matches before securing the trophy with a 2-1 success in Sunday’s final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Fae started the tournament as assistant to Jean-Louis Gasset but took over when the veteran French coach was…

Feb

12

2024

By THOMAS MUKOYA and HUMPHREY MALALO

Marathon world record holder Kiptum dies in road accident

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach were killed in a traffic accident in the Rift Valley, cutting short the career of the only man to have run the endurance classic in less than two hours and one minute. The 24-year-old set the world record, tab at the Chicago Marathon in October with a time of two hours and 35 seconds to surpass the mark of 2:01:09 run by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022. Kiptum, who clocked three of the seven fastest marathon times in history, had been hoping to become the first man to run the…